From the cover
Care capacity increases at area facilities
The background
The big picture
Population growth in Round Rock
As of April, Round Rock’s population neared 140,000, making it the largest city in Williamson County. Neighboring communities such as Pflugerville, Hutto and Georgetown—areas served by Round Rock’s hospital hub—have also experienced steady growth over the past five years. Hutto, in particular, was labeled the 13th fastest-growing city in the country, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau released in May. At Baylor Scott & White, patient visits increased by 30%, and births are up 40%—a surge Drew Bennett says is the main driver behind the need for expanded health care capacity. Gnann echoed that sentiment, attributing population growth as the key factor behind Ascension Seton Williamson’s expansion efforts. “This area’s been growing so much, which is a great problem to have, but we had to be able to build the capacity to help care for them,” Gnann said. With this growth, residents increasingly expect access to comprehensive care within city limits, rather than traveling to Austin, said JW Newman, CEO of St. David’s Round Rock. “[Residents] do have an expectation that they can get the highest level of care here in Round Rock,” Newman said. “The health systems that support this community [must] make the invest- ments to expand their service lines, expand their bricks and mortar [and] expand their footprints to take care of more patients here in Round Rock and Williamson County.”
While St. David’s completed an expansion of its Round Rock site early last year, improvement projects for the two other hospitals in the city are ongoing. Serving Round Rock since 2007, Baylor Scott & White began its expansion in 2023. The upgrades include phased openings, with the most recent development being the hospital’s five-story patient tower opening at the beginning of the year. “We’re excited that we’re continuing to open new areas throughout this calendar year,” said Drew Bennett, BS&W vice president of operations. Ascension Seton Williamson started construction on its expansion in 2024. The hospital has operated in Round Rock since 2008. “We were the first facility on this corner that was literally surrounded by farmland and pasture land,” said Andrew Gnann, president of Ascension Seton Williamson. “We have seen over time the development that has happened here in north Round Rock has just been tremendous.” The hospital’s expansion will include a six- story patient tower and house five floors of acute inpatient care. Upgrades include support services such as labs, a pharmacy and kitchen, as well as patient care like the emergency department and observation unit. “We’re essentially doubling the size of the hospital,” Gnann said.
The city of Round Rock generates population estimates based on housing units, occupancy and household sizes, and has seen increases in people residing within the city.
200K
+34.9%
150K
100K
0
SOURCE: CITY OF ROUND ROCK/COMMUNITY IMPACT
John Gonzales, Williamson County Emergency Medical Services director, said the hospital expansions are needed, because occasionally paramedics will have to wait to transfer a patient from a stretcher to a hospital bed. “All these expansions add more inpatient beds, which allows the ER to clear out quicker, which allows beds to become free for [emergency room] for EMS patients to be delivered,” he said.
Timeline of expansions
St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center
The cost
Began in fall 2022 Expansion completed in January 2024
Each hospital expansion represents tens to hundreds of millions in investments. However, upgrades don’t only include physical building additions. “A lot of times people think growth is only brick and mortar,” Newman said. “A lot of what we [at St. David’s] focus on right now … are what technologies that we can invest in to stay on the progressive side of caring for patients.” At Ascension Seton Williamson, Gnann said the hospital will add “the highest level technology that’s available on the market right now.” Chantel Graham lived in Round Rock for 26 years before moving to Hutto three years ago. Although she hoped to find physicians to go to in
“When I look at where we’re going to retire, it’s going to have to be a place, if it’s not Round Rock … it’s going to have to be something similar, but definitely health care and a hospital will be on my radar.” CHANTEL GRAHAM, HUTTO RESIDENT
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Round Rock Began in fall 2023 Patient tower opened in February 2025 Expected completion in 2026 Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital Began in September 2024 Expected completion in 2026
Hutto, she ended up going back to her doctor in Round Rock for regular appointments. Graham also said that when she needs to see specialists, she finds them in Round Rock.
SOURCES: BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE, ST. DAVID’S HEALTHCARE, ASCENSION SETON WILLIAMSON/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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